QS Top 50 Under 50 2015 – Out Now

**Click here to read an overview of the QS Top 50 Under 50 2016-2017.**

The latest edition of the QS Top 50 Under 50 – an annual ranking of the world’s top universities under 50 years old – is released today, confirming the continued dynamism of Asia’s leading young institutions.

The top spot is retained by Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), followed by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) – both established in 1991.

South Korea’s KAIST – Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology holds onto third place, but while the top three remains stable, there are greater disparities in the pace of progress further down the list, as the world’s leading young universities jostle for global recognition.

The UK’s University of Bath climbs five places to re-enter the top 10 in 7^th position, and ground is also gained this year by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, and Spain’s Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Overall, the top 10 remains dominated by institutions from the dynamic Asian Tiger economies, which occupy all six of the initial places.

Based on the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings®, the QS Top 50 Under 50 aims to highlight fast-developing young institutions making a rapid impact on the global ranking tables. For the first time, this year also sees the publication of the ‘Next 50 Under 50’ – casting additional light on the higher education sector’s fastest-rising stars.

A total of 23 countries have at least one university featured in the Top 50 Under 50 this year, with most entries claimed by Australia (8), the UK (5) and Spain (5). While Asian institutions dominate the very top of the ranking, Europe also has a strong presence, accounting for just under half (24) of the top 50.

Ranked in bands of 10, the ‘Next 50 Under 50’ sees an additional 19 countries featured. Institutions hovering just outside the top 50 include Turkey’s Bilkent University, Kazakhstan’s L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, and China’s Shanghai University.

First published in 2012, the ranking was developed with the aim of celebrating and tracking the progress of these ‘ones to watch’ – the dynamic young institutions which are increasingly challenging the long-established players in the higher education space.

The leader of the Top 50 Under 50, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), now ranks 13^th in the world overall, having made significant gains in recent years. HKUST and KAIST are also ranked among the global top 50 overall, and the remainder of the present decade seems likely to bring further examples of young universities proving the speed with which an international reputation can now be forged.

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